The Impact of Smart Tools on Total Knee Arthroplasty
Giles R. Scuderi, MD
Dr. Scuderi is Director, Insall Scott Kelly Institute, New York, New York.
Smart tools and robotic surgery are helping us take a step into the operating room of the future. As this technology develops, it can potentially help surgeons perform total knee arthroplasty (TKA) faster and with increased accuracy. In addition, this technology will reduce the number of instruments needed for the procedure, thus improving efficiency. As technology advances, smart tools may become commonplace in the operating room and may fulfill their potential to transform the way TKA is performed. Such potential is important, as there has been an exponential rise in the number of TKAs performed annually. The resulting demand on surgeons and hospital systems will necessitate improving technology so that it can be used to treat more patients while maintaining quality of care. Smart tools and robotic surgery may represent one answer to this demand.